2008 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$3900.00USD

Any time one gets a chance to drink Screaming Eagle it is a treat.  The definition of a Cult Napa Cabernet.  It is not a particularly big wine but more on the Bordeaux-esque side of Napa styles.  At age 13, this one is still young but getting closer to maturity and has shed its baby fat.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  Those is wonderful with cassis, black cherries, smoke, cedar and sandalwood.  Medium tannins.  Not quite elegant, but not a muscular wine either.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis, cedar and slight leather notes.  Long finish.  This is delicious. 

2010 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$309.00USD

White Rhone wines can be so finicky, so when a friend opened this for his birthday, it was nice to see this was firing on all cylinders.  Earlier in the day while reading a book about the White House and Wine, it mentioned that Thomas Jefferson referred to White Hermitage as France's greatest white wine, and this bottle gave that some credence.  These wines are so unique when on that they are not for everyone.  It doesn't seem fair to group with Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc as they drink more like a red in that they are not crisp or refreshing or tart.  This one is golden in color, clear a

1961 Château Latour Grand Vin, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1961
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$9417.00USD

This was  served for a friends 60th birthday.  It was decanted for sediment and allowed to breathe for 20 minutes before being poured into glasses and given another ten minutes.  I ended up letting the wine go another 45 minutes (checking in on it during that time) before consuming which seemed to me optimum.  The bottle was bought a few years ago at auction and seemed sound and looked legit.  Purple in color, a bit lighter at the core with some browning especially at the edges.  A bit flat and slightly opaque.  After blowing off some bottle stink and coming back to life, the nose is comple

2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne Lenny Kravitz Limited Edition, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$2500.00USD

This was Magnum 94/200.  A friend's daughter was awarded this bottle from her employer, and she presented it to him for his 60th birthday which was generously shared with his friends.  Amazing wine.  Silvery gold in color, a steady stream of tiny bubbles, clear and bright.  The nose is big with toast, Meyer Lemons, chalk and a hint of ginger.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is so smooth, yet so crisp.  Flavors of green apples, orange peel, minerals and some toast.  So complex and deep.  Incredibly long finish.  This is the best DP since at least 1996.  Quite a treat.  In Magnum format, i

1985 Domaine de Chevalier, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1985
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$159.00USD

Opened and decanted for sediment.  This is drinking well.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, slight bricking.  The nose is nice with cassis, cherries, leather and cedar.  Full bodied.  Tannins seem resolved.  On the palate, cherries and black cherries with underlying leather.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This seems fully mature but not over the hill.  Complex and also delicious.  It would work well with braised lamb.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

1989 Château Angélus, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1989
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$550.00USD

This is drinking great right now.  Mature, but absolutely no hurry.  Decanted for sediment and served.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  No browning.  The nose is classic with cherries, cassis, tobacco, leather, slight funk and cigar box.  Full bodied.  Light but present tannins.  On the palate, lots of cherries, black cherries and cassis with earthiness and spice underneath.  Layers of complexity.  Great balance.  Long finish.  Contemplative.  Great on its own, this would work great with slow braised beef.  Based on this bottle, at least a decade left.  

2019 Mending Wall Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

Mending Wall is yet another winery utilizing Thomas Rivers Brown and his team and the wines are outstanding.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, some cassis, and baking spice.  Full bodied.  Voluptuous texture.  Firm but silky tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black cherries and cassis with some spice and slight black pepper.  Good energy.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but will undoubtedly improve over the next seven to ten years.  Drink over the next fifteen to twenty.  It drinks great on its own and will work well with meat (or veggies

2013 Kapcsándy Family Winery Estate Cuvée State Lane Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Yountville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

This is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is expressive with cassis, black cherries, dark chocolate and slight coffee.  Full bodied.  Rich texture with great balance.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Flavors of cassis, black cherries and chocolate with underlying char.  Long finish.  This is drinking fantastic right now but should still improve over the next five to ten years.  It should drink well for twenty more years after that.  Great on its own, this will nee

2011 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills, USA, Oregon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Not a great vintage for Oregon Pinot Noir, Thomas handled the vintage deftly.  This one is in a nice spot right now.  Getting close to peak but still some youthfulness.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight sour cherries, slight nutmeg, and a hint of earthiness.  Medium to full bodied.  Lovely sinewy texture.  On the palate, nice cherry and sour cherry fruit with underlying spice.  Good backbone of acidity.  Plenty of depth and complexity.  Long finish.  No hurry on this, it should go another ten years based on this bottle.  It doesn't seem like it wil

2017 Ehlers Estate Portrait Red Blend, USA, California, Napa, St. Helena, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$72.00USD

This is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, and 13% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is very nice with cassis, black cherries, cigar box, vanilla and slight smoke.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a nice texture.  Deep, it unwinds in the glass.  Light tannins.  Nots of cassis, cherries with some vanilla and a hint of char.  This wine comes off as much more elegant than their Cabernet and more seamless.  Some of that is the vintage as the 2017's are generally drinking earlier.  That said, this wine should drin

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